Photographic apparatus



G A. AND R. I. LEWIS.

Patented Au INVENTORSQQ ATTORNEY.

UNITED STATES. PATENT OFF'IGE. Y

GEORGE At L-nwIs AND ROBERT 1". LIME, or LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS.

' PHOTOGRABHIC ArrnRA'rns;

United States, residing at Lynn", in the,

countyof Essex and Commonwealth "of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Photographic Apparatus, specificatlon.

Our invention relates to lmprovements- 1n of which the following is a photographic apparatus used in the art "of photo-engraving, and the reproduction of original photographs by eommercial phofollowing specification.

tographers. v latesto themethod andthe device employed for the reproduction of photographs made in the first instance upon paper of rough,

pebbled, dull, or grainy surface.

The objects of our invention are r v To provide a method by means of which it is possible toreproduce photographs in a perfect manner.

To provide for use in reproducing photographs a method which eliminates the oil or grease heretofore used byphotoengravers and commercial photographers.

To provide a method which insures a smooth surface for reproduction 'irrespeo tive of the originial copy.

And to secure other advantages and re sults. some of which are evident from the The above being among the'objects of our invention, the sameconsists in the method herein described, andthe steps of which are included in the appended claims, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, which are illustrative of the method, and in which Figure 1 shows a frontview of our I Application filed'J'anuary 13, 1921. S eria1'No. 437,054.

A. Lewis And more particularly it re-,

device. Eiguref 2 shows a cross sectional;

view of our device on the line AAin Figure;

Speci ficationof Letters Patent. Patent d A 1 29 1.922;

1. Figure 3 shows the detail of the working parts of the device used incur improved method. Similar? letters refer. to similar parts throughout the various views.

- In Figure 1 (B) shows the back of the body portion of our device which is box like in shape, (13) shows. the bottom of our device, (B shows the side portions of our device. The top. of said box portion is, open at (B so as to receive the photograph or] copy-to be reproduced, the glass which is used in backing up the same, and the water whichis usedin connection with our improved method. The frontside of our body portion is of glass (0) firmly imbedded in a composition of wax in the holding frame a (D) which is positioned about thelower and two side portions of the front of'our boxlike device. The bar (E) at the top. of

the said'glass front is provided forthe better' protection of the glass C, and for the purposes of holding steadily and in position,

parallel to" each other, the sides of the frame (D). The bottom (13") of our'boxlike de vice isbuilt on a bevel so as to form the pocket ((l"). This bevel, construction automatically positions the secondary or backing up glass.(C close, or adjacent, to the wax imbedded glass (G) atits base portion. The secondary glass front (C lies parallel to the wax imbedded glass front (0'), throughout its area: when pressed against the same by action of the springs (F) which are positioned at the top of our box shaped device. The springs (F)'are'securedto the sides (B and extended from the pointat which they are so secured in the direction of the open top (B Said springs (F)terminate in the hooks (F purposes of holding the roll shaft (G onto which are for the said springs; The holding roll (G') is positioned on theshaft (G), and is made from This an inch or so from the top with clear water. Then by raising the roll shaft on the springs (F) we release the secondary glass front (C lift out said secondary glass and position thereon the photograph. which has previously been water soaked. l-Vhen the secondary glass (C) and the holding roll ((l) are returned to their first position the space between the secondary glass (C and the imbedded glass front (0) is minimized by pressure of the controlling roll It will be understood that the photograph to be reproduced is then between the secondary plate (C and the wax imbeddcd glass front ((1.)

Our improved method comprises the saturation in water of an original photograph, to be reproduced, and its immersion in a quantity of water held in a container having a transparent side, the face of said photograph being held against said transparent side by parallel. means at the back thereof, and the ordinary steps of photography then being followed while said photograph is so immersed and so held face against said t -ansparent side.

To those skilled in the art to which our invention appertains it is obvious that the method described is a radical change and improvement over and above the methods heretofore known and used. Our method eed not be followed except as specified in the claims, nor necessarily in the order named, and the method is therefore susceptible of modification.

It will be understood that after the photograph has been reproduced it is dried, ordinarily by placing it between two blotting sheets. After being properly dried in a flat position it may be mounted in any way de sired. It is demonstrated that the use of our improved method leaves the photograph undamaged, a result highly desirable in the art of photoengraving or commercial photography.

Our improved method eliminates the use of oils, greases, and glycerine, which have heretofore been resorted to in attempting to accomplish the perfect results our method insures, and also eliminates the inconveniences of evaporation and drying heretofore encountered.

It is clearly demonstrated that our improved method as described effectively eliminates the grain and roughness of the original photograph, sharpens and brightens the lines thereof, accentuates the detail, insures better gradations, and on the whole is a tremendously marked improvement over the methods and processes heretofore known 0 used. i'l Having thus described our invention we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States.

1. A device of the kind described, comprising a box constructed to contain a liquid and having a front glass plate, a secondary glass plate for pressing a print against said front glass plate, said box being formed with a bottom which is inclined downwardly to" wards the front of the box to automatically position the bottom edge of the secondary glass plate in close relation to the front glass plate, and a pressing means at the top of the box for pressing the top edge of the secondary glass close to the front glass.

2. A device of the kind described, com-- prising a box constructed to contain a'liquid and having a front glass plate, a secondary glass plate for pressing a print against said front glass plate, said box being formed with a bottom which is inclined downwardly toward the front of the box to automatically position the bottom edge of the secondary glass plate in close relation to the front glass plate, and a spring-pressed roller extending across the top of the box for pressing the top edge of the secondary glass close to the front glass.

3. A device of the kind described, comprising a box constructed to contain a liquid and having a front glass plate, a secondary glass plate for pressing a print against said front glass plate, said box being formed with a bottom which is inclined downwardly toward the front of the box to automatically position the bottomedge of the secondary glass plate in close relation to the front glass plate, a roller extending across the top of the box, and springs secured to the outside of the box and engaging the ends of said roller to engage the same against the secondary glass and press it close to the front glass.

4-. A device of the kind described, comprising a box constructed to contain a liquid and having a front glass plate, a secondary glass plate for pressing a print against said front glass plate, said box being formed with a bottom which is inclined downwardly toward the front of the box to automatically position the bottom edge of the secondary glass plate in close relation to the front glass plate, a roller extending acrossthe top of the box, and springs secured to the outside of the box and engaging the ends of said roller to engage the same against the secondary glass and press it close to the front glass, said springs being formed with bent upper ends to support said roller in a nonpressing position to permit the insertion of the secondary glass.

5. A device of the kind described, comprising a box constructed to contain a liquid and having a front glass plate, a secondary glass plate for pressing a print against said front glass plate, said box being formed with a bottom which is inclined downwardly towards the front of the box to automatieally osition the bottom edge of the secondary gFass plate in close relation to the front glass plate, and a pressing means at the top of the box for pressing the top edge of the secondary glass close to the front glass and also to form a support for the pressing means in a non-pressing position to permit the insertion of the secondary glass.

In testimony whereof We aflix our signatures in the presence of two Witnesses.

GEORGE A. LEWIS.

ROBERT LLEWIS.

Witnesses; 7

' DOROTHY F. BISHOP,

MARGARE A. COLLINS. 

